ABILENE, Texas – The 2019-20 season officially begins on Friday, Nov. 8 for the McMurry University women's basketball team, as the War Hawks welcome Schreiner to Kimbrell Arena at 5 p.m. The next day, McMurry hosts Texas Lutheran at 4 p.m.
Following an exhibition against a tough Abilene Christian team this past Tuesday, the War Hawks will move into regular season play with hopes of building on last season's trip to the American Southwest Conference Championship tournament last season.
LIVE STATS l LIVE VIDEO l PRESEASON QUICK FACTS l PRESS CONFERENCE
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COACH'S COMMENTS: "We're establishing a lot of principles and culture with a new roster essentially," said McMurry head coach Brittany Densman-Roes, who enters her fifth season at the helm. "This group works extremely hard. I'm very proud of their work ethic. They respond and don't blink at adversity. They push through, and I'm really proud of what they're doing, showing that grit as freshmen and really elevating our returners' game."
LAST YEAR: McMurry finished the 2018-19 season 8-18 overall and 5-11 in the ASC. The conference wins were enough to launch McMurry to their first ASC postseason tournament since returning to the American Southwest Conference in 2016-17.
SENIOR STAPLES: McMurry returns a pair of seniors in forward Skyler Reyna and guard Sarah Doherty. Reyna has led the team in points the last two seasons and is one of five McMurry players in school history to average a double-double for a complete season (14.7 PPG, 10.8 RPG last year), while Doherty ranked second on the team last year with 10.8 points per game.
INCOMING PLAYERS: To join four returners, McMurry has 15 newcomers. The sizable group includes 14 true freshmen and one transfer in junior guard Francheska Aguino from Coastal Bend College.
BREAK IT DOWN: On the 19 player roster, McMurry has nine guards, eight forwards and two centers. Of the returners, Doherty and sophomore Brittany Rodgers hope to lead a fresh group of guards, while Reyna and sophomore preseason ASC watch list nominee Savannah Johnson anchor the posts.
SCOUTING SCHREINER: The Mountaineers come into the season following a 6-20 record last year and a 6-10 mark in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. Schreiner was picked to finish sixth in the SCAC this season.
SCOUTING TLU: The Bulldogs will look to defend their 2019 SCAC Championship this upcoming season, as they open with fellow ASC institution Hardin-Simmons on Friday. TLU was picked second in the SCAC preseason rankings and are led by eighth-year head coach Mel Dixon.
SARAH DOHERTY ON THIS SEASON'S OUTLOOK: "This year kind of reminds me of my freshman year because they are kind of in the same boat (as I was). We came in with 14 freshmen in my freshman year. Now that I'm a senior, it's a little different. The freshman kind of bond together because they are in the same boat. There's been a lot more competition. There are a lot of strong players, and we have a really deep bench. That's the biggest difference this year."
BRITTANY RODGERS ON THE MCMURRY EXPERIENCE: "I feel like I've grown with my teammates. Like Sarah said (earlier in the press conference), we've made lifelong friendships. I love the professors here, and this is my home away from home."
